State Measures Mystify Voters / Only Prop. 5 is known to most

April Lynch, Kenneth Howe, Chronicle Staff Writers

Published 4:00 am, Tuesday, October 13, 1998

1998-10-13 04:00:00 PDT STATE -- With a single exception, voters remain largely ignorant about several of California's major ballot propositions just three weeks before the election, according to a new Field Poll.

with initiatives to roll back utility rates, fund childhood development programs with a cigarette tax or modify California's open primary law.

The big exception was Proposition 5, the Indian Gaming initiative, which registered the highest on voter radar screens with 88 percent awareness. This was in part because gambling interests pro and con have raised a combined $60 million, mostly for television advertising.

Among likely voters, 40 percent said they were inclined to vote for the measure, which would expand casino gambling on Indian lands, while 24 percent would vote no. Another 24 percent were undecided.

The proposition is backed by a coalition of California Indian tribes, which argues that gaming has brought stability and prosperity to their once-impoverished communities.

Opponents, ranging from anti- gambling religious leaders to big Nevada casinos, counter that the tribes are simply trying to skirt state laws by pushing the measure.

The initiative that was rated second on the awareness scale -- an electric utility rate rollback -- also ranks second in spending, with the state's three big utility companies pouring in almost $30 million to defeat the measure.

Proposition 9 would roll back electricity rates by 20 percent and prevent consumers from paying for $6 billion in so-called rate reduction bonds. Consumer groups argue that the initiative will save ratepayers billions, but utilities counter that it will dismantle the state's newly deregulated electricity system.

Only about 50 percent of voters were familiar with the issue. When it was read to them, 45 percent said they would oppose it, compared with 19 percent who said they would vote for it. Thirty-six percent remained undecided.

Voters were also backing two ballot measures related to children, even if they did not know much about them.

Fewer than half of those surveyed had heard about Propositions 8 or 10.

Proposition 8 would tighten rules on teacher credentialing and provide permanent funding for class-size reductions. It would also transfer budgets and curriculum authority from elected school boards to parent-teacher councils and create a new state school inspector. About 48 percent of voters said they would support it, with 29 percent opposed and 23 percent undecided.

Proposition 10 would impose new cigarette taxes and use the money for early child development and smoking prevention programs. About 48 percent of voters said they backed the idea, with 33 percent opposed and 19 percent undecided. Least-known of the initiatives surveyed was Proposition 3, which would modify California's open primary law for the presidential contest only.

Governor Pete Wilson recently signed a law to move California's 2000 primary to March 7, as a way to give the state more clout in the presidential race. The proposition would keep the primary open, except when it comes to the presidential contest. There, voters would be restricted to casting ballots on candidates from their own party.

About 43 percent of voters said they opposed the restriction once a summary of the measure was read to them, with 26 percent voting yes and 21 percent undecided.